Jena Alliance course: Microbiome research using mouse models

This workshop has to be postponed!

Theme of the workshop:

The workshop deals with the role of our microbiota in health and disease – and the importance of gnotobiotic mice to elucidate how the microbiota as a whole or interactions between members of the microbiota impact the host. We will provide the theoretical framework and discuss examples of how gnotobiotic animals contribute to our understanding of microbiota-host interactions. In the practical parts, we’ll (1) work hands-on with murine fecal samples to perform some basic analyses. (2) We run the only germ free mouse facility in Thuringia and you’ll have the opportunity to see how a gnotobiotic facility works in real life!

Topics:

• Introduction to microbiome research: Definitions, concepts, main questions
• The role of mice and the concept of gnotobiosis as essential tools to study the impact of microbiota on mammals (incl. a tour of the gnotobiotic facility at the HKI)
• Examples of study design and analyses using gnotobiotic mice to investigate the impact of microbiota
• Basics of microbiome analyses (incl. hands-on DNA extraction and basic analysis)

Location: Laborhaus 3, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena

The number of participants will be limited to 6 in order to assure a workshop environment conducive to “hand to hand” exercises. Students only need a basic background in animal physiology/microbiology/general lab work (pipetting, sterile techniques).

To register please send an email to katja.praefcke@uni-jena.de

First come, first served!